
Glass / "^ 
Book ' St/ lg 



^^ 



.^19 



SERMON, 



©BLIVEKED IN THE PRESBYTERIAK MEETING-HOBSR 
!N WINCHESTER, 

On THURSDAY the 23b Jan 1812; 
BEING A DAY OF FASTING AND HUMILIATION, 

4PF0INTED BT THH CITIZENS Olf WINCHESTE8. ON AGCOtJWT OF TRp 

LATE CALAMITOUS 

riRfi At THE RICHMOND THEATRE. 



By the Rev. WILLIAM HILLj 

OP WINCHESTER. 



*J 1 1 W— .y>y 



t'BI^iTSB ATTHEOrnCBOJf Xfi^ -' WINCnsStEK GA'iETTFr.t 



Y'^'i^ 



Dear Sib, 

ON behalf of the Committee, appointed by the 
late meeting of the Citizens of fVinchestct% and at the request 
of many of our mutual friends, I have to request that you 
will favour us with a copy of your truly excellent and ap- 
propriate Sermon, delivered on Thursday last, for pub- 
Ucation, 

I am, respectfully, 

ALFRED II POWELL, 
Monday, Jan. 27th, 1812. 
To the Rev. WILLIAM HILLr 



^V3 wi; 



SERMON, Sfc. 



Luke — XIII. — 1^^ and 5th inclusive. 

There were present at this season, some that told him of 
the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with 
their sacrijices — And Jc.sns answering said unto them ; 
^suppose ye that these Galileans xcere sinners above allthc 
Galileans, because they suffered such things? I fell you 
nay : but except ye repent ye shall also likewise perisli. Or 
^hose eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloamfell, and 
slew them, think ye that they were sinners above 
all men that dwelt at Jerusalem ? I tell you nay : but 
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

THE Blessed Saviour in the close of the last chapter, 
had just mentioned what would be the dreadful doom of 
obstinate and impenitent sinners, who, when in the hands 
of their adversary, and about to he hauled before their 
Judge, should still neglect to make their peace with him. — 
This induced some person present to mention the case of 
those Galileans, whose blood Filate had mingled with 
their sacrifices, as a case supposed to be in point. The 
Saviour, as was his custom, took an occasion, from the 
relation of that barbarous act, to deduce a pious improve- 
ment, and to impart useful instruction. 

By referring to another passage of scripture, and to 
the Jewish historian, Josephus, we learn the occasion of 
this cruel deed. These persons, slain by Pilate, the pro- 
curator of Judea, were some of the faction of Judas of 
Galilee, mentioned by Gamaliel in the 5th Chap, of the 
Acts of the Apostles, and more at large, by Josephus. 
This Judas had stirred up the Galileans to sedition 
against the Roman government, under a pretence of as- 
serting their liberty, by freeing them from the Roman 
tribute ; and some of thern coming to Jerusalem, to sa- 



I ^ 1 

•cvificc according to the custom of the Jews, at the Passo- 
ver; Pilate Ciiuscd them to he slairi upon the spot, while 
they were engaged in ot'leritig up their sacrilices ; shed- 
ding their hlood, with that ol their beasts, which thejr 
were slaying tor the altar. 

Our Saviour takes occasion from the relation of this 
event, to correct a very vicious humour, which has al- 
ways raged in the world : that of censuring the faults of 
others, whilst we overlook our own. 

The principle ol self-love which was inherent in man, 
has, by our apostacy degenerated into self- flattery, so 
that it has now almost become natural to man, to sup- 
ply the want of a good conscience, by a good opinion of 
themselves. And hence it comes to pass, that men are 
so ready to take all advantages to confirm themselves in 
that false peace, which they have created to themselves 
in their own imagination: and so they can but main- 
tain a comfortable opinion of themselves, it matters not 
how uncharitable they are to others: and knowing no 
better way to foster this fond eonceit of themselves 
than by fancying God to be their friend, it hence comes 
to pass, that they are so apt to int( rpret the providences 
of God towards others in favour of themselves, and to 
abuse the judgments which fall upon their neighbours, 
into an argument of their own comparative innocence. 

Therefore, our Saviour, who knew what was in man, 
and what kind of conclusions men are apt to draw from 
such occurrences of Providence as are before us, endea- 
vours in the first place to prevent the bad use which they 
were apt to make oi'them. "Suppose ye," says he," that 
those Galileans were sinners, above all the Galileans, 
because they suffered such things ? I tell you, nay." 

To this instance of the Galileans, he adds another still 
stronger. Pilate might be represented as a tyrant, and 
* the best of men are liable to sufTer, by the cruel hand of 
oppression. But he now mentions an occurrence of a 
recent date, and well known to all at Jerusalem, which 
proceeded immediately from the hand of God, without 
the agency of ma^ii. " Those eigliteen upon whom the 



t ^ 1 

tower in Siloam fqll, and slew them, think ye that 
they were sinners above all that dwelt at Jerusalem ? 
I tell you nay" 

And having thus anticipated the censuring of others, 
our Saviour proceeds to awaken his hearers to a consi- 
deration and care of themse'ves. '' 1 tell you nay; but 
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." 

The general sense of which words, is, that impeniten- 
cy in sin, will certainly be the ruin of men sooner or la- 
ter. It will bring great mischiefs upon them in this 
world : but however that may be, it will infallibly plunge 
them into inconceivable misery in the next. But besides 
the certain denunciation of misery and ruin to all im- 
penitent sinnery, which is the largest sense of the words, 
and analogous to many other declarations of scripture, 
it is probable that our Saviour, in the present instance, 
more immediately referred to those temporal calamities 
which were shortly to beial the Jews ; and by way of 
prediction, foretold what would be the fate of that whole 
nation, if they continued impenitent. There is ^ pecu- 
liar force in the word, omows , which means something 
miore than merely, likewise, or alsQ^ as it is rendered in 
our translation. It means literally, '* except ye repent, 
ye shall all perish in like manner,'' i. e. besides the ven- 
geance of another world, a temporal judgment as sad as 
those just alluded to, and not much unlike them^ shall 
come upon this whole nation : which awful prediction 
was soon after fulfilled at the siege and sack of Jerusa- 
lem, by the Roman army under Titus. 

The pious and useful reflections, suggested by the 
subject under consideration, would also very naturally 
arise from the late awful visitation of Richmond, which 
has shrouded that city in gloom — thrown our legis- 
latures into mourning, and suspended the voice ofmelody 
and song. The dreadful scene forbid? all attempts at 
painting it, for it would actually beggar all description.*' 

* What follows, was here introduced when the fermon was delivered ; 
but upon reflexion, I think it had belter appear in the fliap© of a netr 
SHaa w th; body of the fejaion; 



[ 6 1 

It is true our friends and fellow citizens have been in-. 
rested — suddenly arrested — in an hour of thought. e»s 
gaiety and mirth. — Many — Aii! many have lallen victim? 
to devouring tlamcs : without previous rellection hur- 
ried to a judgment bar, and to a destiny hencefor- 
ward unalterable. And are wc to conclude, that they 
were the guilty, and we the innocent ? Our Saviour 
cautions us from drawing such a conclusion, but assures 
us '' that except we repent, we shall all likewise perish!' 

All th^t I (hall venture upon, towards this, at prefcnt, will be t© n^e 
a few appropriate lines from a favourite Poet. 

When againft rcafon, riot (huts the door, 

And Gaietv fupplies the place of fenfe, 

4)eath leads the dance, and ftamps the deadly dycf 

Gayly caroufjng, to his gay compeers, 

Inly, he laughs, to fee them laugh at him 

As abfent far. And when the revel burns ; 

When fearii baniflied, and triumphant thought 

Calling for all the joys beneath the moon, 

i^gainft death turns the key ; and bids hin^ fup 

"With their progenitors — He drops bii malk, 

Frown out at full, — they ftart — despair — and dic» 

Scarce with more ludden terror and furprizc, 
From his black mafk of nitre, touch'd by fire, 
He burfts — explodes — roars -blazes — and dcvourc| 

A fliining mark invites the tyrants fpcar, 
As if to damp our elevated aims, 
And ftroagly preach humility to man. 
Oh ! how portentous is fcftivity ! 
How comet-like, it threatens while it (hines ? 
We have juft had full proofs ot deaths ambition :» 
To cull his viflims from the taireft folds, 
And flieathe his fliafts in all the pride oi life, 
When flooded with abundance : purpled o'er 
With recent honours, bloom'd with every blifs ; 
Set up in oftcntation ; made the gaze, 
The gaudy centre of the public eye ; 
When fortune thus had toifed her children up. 
How fuddcn have we feen them drop at once ; 
Our morning's envy, and our evening's figh : 

Thus runs death's diead commiffion," Strike I bat h-^ 
** As moft alarms the living by the dead." 
Hence flratagem delights him, and furprizc, 
And cruel fport with man's fecurities. 
Not fimpic conqueft, trhmph is his aim 
And where lealt fear'd, /(^ifri" conqueft triumph* moS;. 

[Somcvrb;it altered and accommodated from Young, j 

^ 4 



£ 1 1 

From the text and the occasion thus explained, let us 
e-onsider two things. 

1st. The wrong use and censorious conclusions which 
men are apt to draw from signal judgments of God upon 
others. 

2nd. The right use w^hich we should make of these 
things ; which is, to reflect upon our own snis, and repent 
of them ; lest the like, or greater judgments overtake 
us. 

But, before I enter upon a discussion of this subject, 
I beg leave to make one or two rrmarks. — Remarks 
which I think necessary from the place in which I stand; 
from a regard to the office I sustain, — And to guard 
against a misapprehension or misconstruction, of what 
I may say upon this occasion. 

Whilst i sincerely commiserate the unhappy victims 
who have lately fallen at the theatre in Richmond; 
whilst I condole with their afflicted friends and relatives; 
whilst 1 mean to censure, — and censrre with severity 
the illiberal and malignant constructions, which many 
are disposed to draw from this and similar occurrences ; 
1 am constrained to declare myself an enemy to the 
amusements of the theatre, as they are in use in our day. 
Not that I suppose a theatre might not be so ordered 
and regulated, as to become a powerful auxiliary to vir- 
tue, patriotism, and literature. I believe they formerly 
answered these purposes In ancient Greece and Rome '. 
and I have no doubt that they might again, under pro- 
per management and regulations: but I view' them, at 
present, as little better than schools of vice. The stage 
has fallen into the hands of the most abandoned and 
licentious wretches and prostitutes, with ^^\w exceptions. 
The performances are very generally calculated to of- 
fend piety, and wound modesty and delicacy : to be- 
stow our support and charity upon such objects, is> 
certainly to divert it from objects much more worthy 
and meritorious. 

But, notwithstanding my opposition to the theatre, I 
do not suppose it go deadly a crime to attend it, as to 



L 8 J 

call for a signal judgment of God to dlbtinguish it froiti. 
other vices. 1 have no hesitation in declaring, that I 
consider it as comparatively innocent, to many other 
practices very common with others, as well as among 
ourselves; and committed by persons not unwilling to 
deal out the thunders of Jehovah asainst their neijjhbours, 
andtoconstitutethemselvestheinterpretfTs of Providence. 

We are now, 1st, to consider the urt>ng use and censo- 
rious conclusions, men are ipt to draw from the signal 
judgments of God upon others. 

In general, it consists in being very uncharitable and 
censorious towards them. This may sometimes be the 
effect of sheer envy, and malevolence; (for the cre- 
dit of human nature it is to be hoped that this case does 
not often happen) — but it is more commonly the conse- 
quence of a gross and stupid neglect oi' ourselves. For 
men do not usually cherish and entertain this censorious 
humour for its own sake ; but in order to some other 
end ; and that is, most commonly, self- flattery and a fond 
affection for themselves. This makes them forward to* 
represent others, to all the disadvantage possible, that 
they themselves may appear less evil in their own eyes, 
and have a foil to set themselves off by comparison. Ifc 
is the nature of guilt, to flee from itself, and to use all 
possible arts, to hide and lessen itself. For guilt in the 
soul, is like deformity in the body ; persons of this des- 
cription seldom arrive at the absurd conceit of thinking 
themselves beauties. But because thev cannot think so, 
they do all they can to comfort and commend themselves, 
by comparison. Hence men are apt to multiply and ag- 
gravate the faults and miscarriages of others that their 
Ovvn may appear the less : for a !< ss evil in respect to a 
greater, hath some face and appearance of good. And 
because there can be no oreater evidence that a man is 
a great sinner, than for him to be declared to be so, 
from heaven, many are forward to interpret the re- 
markable judgments of God upen others, as an argu- 
ment of their being more notorious otfenders, 

Sometimes thig is doiiCj thro' a species of pride, and 



t 9 ] 

uuriosity, in seeming to understand the i*eason and end 
of Gods judgments, as if they had been of his council and 
saw further into the reasons of his Providence than other 
men. Like some pragmatical politicians, who, affecting 
to be in the secrets and confidence of government, wiil 
pretend to understand all its hidden springs, and under- 
take not only to explain the design and intention of every 
public measure, but also foretel what is yet to come to 
pass. But what is still vvorse — this is many times done 
Jo gratify their own passions and foolish conceits ; as if 
God was angry with those persons and things which 
displease ?^em ; and that God's judgments are expres- 
sions of his displea&ure at those persons whom they dis- 
like, and would certainly punish, if the government of 
the world were m their hands. 

But many mistaken men think it a piece of piety and 
affectionate ^eal for God, and a taking of his part, to 
censure those heavily, whom he aflflicts severely. Like 
some cringing Parasites, who if they should see a great 
man, whom they would call their friend, to be angry 
with any one and to strike him, would think themselves 
bound, thro' mere officiousness, to fall upon him and 
beat him too. But from whatever cause it may proceed, it 
certainly is a base principle ; and our Saviour, in the text^^ 
does, with great vehemency deny, that any such conclu- 
sions can, with certainty, be collected from the judg- 
ments of God upon others; " 1 tell you n^y f and to 
express it still diore vehemently, he repeats it again, " I 
tell you na<y." This however is a very common prac- 
tice among men, and with good men too in other respects, 
as we may learn from thfe friends of .lob, who, when 
ihry saw him aftlicted by the hand of God in so strange 
and extraordinary a manner, presently concluded that 
he must needs be a very great offender, and because they 
could find no evidence of this in his life and actions, they 
therefore concluded that his wickedness was secret, and 
he, consequently, a great hypocrite. 

This also was the mistake of the Disciples of Christ, 
who having found a man that was born Wind, aske(l 

B 



[ 10 ] 

him ; ** who did sin — this man or his parents that he was 
born bhnd?" All this proceeded Irom laying down this 
mistaken principle , '' That God always deals w ilh men 
in this world according to their actions, and that one 
might judge of a man's state, from the* rewards or purr- 
ishments that follow him, in this hie." 

If this were to be the rule of God's procedure with us, 
alas ! who could hope to escape. This is not the state of 
rewards and punishments, but as the wise man saith 
" The like happeneth to all ; as it is with the wicked, so 
is it also witli the righteous." Thank God ! we live un- 
der a gracious and corrective dispensation as yet. 

Not, but that the hand of God doth, sometimes, as it 
were by a finger, point at a sin, which it designs to pun- 
ish ; as when remarkable punishments follow visibly 
upon notorious sins ; — when some great and clamorous 
impiety calls down some immediate and sudden judg- 
ment from heaven, as in the case of Annanias and Sap- 
phira. Or, when a sin is punished in its own kind, as 
drunkenness by a surfeit — lewdness by disease, — intem- 
perance by sickness, — sloth by poverty &c. with a judg- 
ment so plainly suited to it and so palpable, that the 
punishment carries the very mark and signature of the 
sin upon it. In such cases we may with safety ascribe 
the punishment to a particular ein, and say, it is a mani- 
festation of God's displeasure at such practices. But un- 
less the case be remarkably clear and obvious, it is more 
becoming creatures possessed of such limited power as 
we have, to be cautious and modest. Except then 
the case be very manifest, or we possessed a revelation 
to guide us, it would be rash to be peremptory as to 
the particular sin or kind of sin, so as to say^ '' that for 
such a sin God sent such a judgment upon a particular 
person, or company of persons. It would likewise be 
rash for any man without a divine revelation, pcrrmptoril}^ 
to conclude, that God, in his judgments, has respect on- 
ly tot some recent acts of impiety, and that his arrows are' 
leveled against the wickedness of those men only, who 
are now upon the stage and in present view. In foriri' 



[ 11 3 

trig such a conclusion, we should take the measure of oup 
Maker by ourselves. And because men are mightily 
affected with the present, and very sensible of a fresh 
provocation, and wibh to revenge themselves while the 
heat is upon them, therefore many would also have 
their Maker do so. But there is nothing which occasions 
more mistakes about God and his providence, than to 
bring him to our standard, and to measure his thoughts 
by our thoughts, and the ways and methods of his pro- 
vidence by ours. 

Justice in God, is a wise, calm, and steady principle.: 
which, as to the time and circumstances of its exercise, 
is regulated by his wisdom. Past and present, are very 
material differences as to us ; but they signify little with 
God, whose vast and incomprehensible understanding 
takes in all differences of time, and looks upon them as 
at one view. So that when tlie judgments of God follow 
the sins of men at a grea^ distance, God is not 
slack concerning his word, as men count slackness; for 
a thousand years are in his sight as but one day, and 
one day as a thousand years. 

We have abundant testimony from scripture, that the 
justice of God often has a great retrospection, and pun- 
ishes the sins of men a long time after the commission of 
them. In the second commandment, he threatens to 
visit the inicaities of the fathers upon the children unto 
the third and fourth generation ; and the Canaanites 
were, for many generations, filling up the measure of 
their iniquity. If this were not the case, how then should 
God judge the world ? If it be consistent with the justice 
of God to respite the greatest part of the punishment of 
sinners to another world, he certainly may, without any 
imputation of his justice, defer the punishment of sin io 
this world. 

It would likewise be rash to conclude, from some cir- 
eumstances in the judgments or some fanciful parraMel 
betwixt the sin and the punishment, what sinners or 
what persons in particular, God designed to punish by 
§uch a calamity. There is scarcely any thing that be- 



[ 13 ] 

trays men more to hasty and ungrounded censures and 
determinations concerning the judgments of God, than 
a superstitious observation of som^ little circumstances 
belonging to them ; and the conceit of a seeming parallel 
between such a sin, and such a punishment Ttiis was 
the ground of Shemei*s rash determination concerning 
David, and what particular sin of his it was, for which 
Ciod permitted his son Absalom to rise up in rebellion 
against him. '^The Lord hath returned upon thee says 
he) the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou 
hast reigned, and the Lord ha^h now delivered the king- 
dom into the hands of Absalom thy son and behold thoa 
art taken in thy own rnischief," Here seemed to be as 
handsome a parallel between this misfortune which be- 
fel David, and his conduct towards the house of Saul, as 
can well happen in any judgment, But Shemeiwas mis- 
tal:cn notwithstanding ; for the Lord had set David upon 
the throne of Saul himself, — meant to restore it to hini 
again, and continue his posterity in possession of it af- 
ter him. The consideration of this one instance should 
very much deter wise men from peremptory conclusions 
concerning the judgments of God, upon such slight 
grounds, as a supposed parallel between the sin and the 
punishment. Yet mankind are very generally affected 
in this superstitious way. All parties are very greedy 
to catch at any shadow of a parallel, between the judg- 
ments which befal their enemies, and the sins, which 
they suppose them to haye committed : and are apt to cry 
out, ^' Such things are evident testimonies from heaven," 
of God's displeasure against those whom they would 
wish to make odious. 

In the beginning of the reformation, when Zuinglius, 
the great reformer of Switzerland was slain in battle 
by t le Papiits, and his body burned, it was reported that 
his heart was found entire in the ashes. From this cir- 
cumstance, his enemies undertook to infer the hardness 
and contumacy of his heart; and \\\s friends the firm- 
ness and sincerity of it, in true religion Every thing 
has two handles — and a good wit and a lively imagina 



[13 ] 

tion may find something in every judgment, whereby he 
may turn it upon his adversaries. Fancy is an endless 
thing ; and if we will go this way to work, then he that 
has the best wit and the most fanciful imagination, is 
likely to be the best interpreter of God judgments and 
providence. 

Once more It is presumptuoiis and dangerous for 
us to determine any thing absolutely, concerning the 
ends and consequences of God's judgments. Commonly, 
all parties that are down or low in circumstances, are apt 
to soothe or flatter themselves, that God intends by such 
?.nd such judgments upon their adversaries, to make 
way for the restoration of their sect or party ; and the 
bestowment of those things which they desire. — Others 
who are more gloomy and melancholy, are apt to fore- 
bode the worst, and to imagine dreadful and diemal con- 
sequences. But it is absurd for us us to pretend to know 
the secret ends and designs of Providence. Sometimes 
God makes one calamity the forerunner of another ; and 
sometimes again, his omnipotent wisdom forceth good 
out of evil and makes a great judgment m the issue, to 
turn out a great blessing. Jacob thought the loss of his 
son Joseph, the greatest calamity that could possibly be- 
fal him ; when in the end it proved the gi^eatest mercy 
to him and his family that could happen. 

Thus I have done with the first thing I proposed, 
which was to consider the wrong use and censorious 
conclusions which men are apt to draw from signal judg- 
liients of God upon others. 

I proceed to the 2d thing proposed — which was — to 
consider the right use we should make of these things ; 
and that is — to reflect upon our own sins and repent of 
them, lest the like or greater judp;mcnts overtake us. 

This, our Saviour tells us in the next words. *" But 
except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." As it he 
had said — there is no reason at all why we should con- 
clude from the terrible judgments of God, whi« h have 
befallen others, that they were greater sinners than our- 
selves, who have for the present escaped. But instead 



[ 11 ] 

of censuniig them, we should look into ourselves. Tiie 
most proper reflection to he made upon such occasions 
is, that we also are liahle to the like judgments ourselves ; 
that our sins have deserved that (iod's providence should 
have dealt with us as it did with those Galileans, by 
mingling our blood and sacrifices together — or those 
eighteen upon v/hom the tower in Siloam fell — or those 
of our fellow citizens who fell in the late conflagration. 
But whatever were the reasons why judgments fell upon 
them and passed us by, we may be sure of this one 
thing: that if we continue impenitent, we have reason 
to expect the like or greater ruin. 

When we see the judgments of God abroad in the 
world, and to fall heavily upon particular persons and 
places., we should argue thus, with ourselves. For what 
reason the Holy and wise providence of God hath dealt 
so severely with others, I know not. Whether out of a 
particular displeasure against them, for some notorious 
sin committed by them, or whether for a merciful warn- 
ing to myself and others, or for both, it is not for me to 
pry curiously into the counsels of God, and to wade into 
the unfathomable depths of his judgments ; but there is 
one use which I am sure it concerns me nearly, to make 
of it ; to look into myself — to search and try my ways — 
to repent of my sins, — and to forsake them, lest, while 
I am gazing upon others, 1 fall into the like or greater 
calamities myself. 

It may be, that those persojns who have been so severe- 
ly visited, were not more obnoxious than I am ; wheni 
this hath happened to persons, from all appearances not 
greater sinners than myself what may not I fear who am 
in the same condemnation ? — It may be, they were not so 
great sinners as I am. This should av/aken me still more t& 
a consideration of my dano;er. Nay, judgments have of- 
ten fallen upon some of God's own dear children, — this 
should startle me most of all ; for if these things have 
been done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 
If this have been the lot of those whom God loves, 
what shall be the portion of those whom he hates? If 



judgment may begin at the hous^^ where shall the ungod- 
ly and the sinners appear ? 

The judgments which are executed upon particular 
places and persons, are designed by heaven to be so 
many admonitions to the inhabitants ot the world, to 
learn righteousness. The fearful ruin which befel Sodom 
and Gomorra and the cities about them, was not intend- 
ed only for those wicked cities, but lor a standing exam- 
ple and a lasting terror to all ages of the world. For 
St. Judie tells us, that Sodom and Gomorra and the 
cities aSbut them are set forth for an example, suffering 
the vengeance of eternal fire. 

It is the advice of the prophet Micah, " That we should 
hear the rod and him who hath appointed it !" Every 
rod of God, — every affliction hath a voice, which no6 
only speaks to the sufferers who are smitten, but to those 
who stand by and look on. And if when God sends judg- 
ments upon others we do not take the warning; if, 
when instead of reflecting upon ourselves, and trying our 
own ways, we turn our eyes from the sight, and shut 
our ears upon the voice : then we leave the Almighty no 
other way to awaken us, and bring us to the considera- 
tion of our evil ways, but by pouring down his wrath 
upon our own heads, that so he may convince us that 
we are sinners, by the same argument from which We 
have concluded others to be so. 

We should remember that we are called, by these 
occurrences particularly, to the exercise of repentance. 
But invain should we profess our penitence, if we should 
continue in our former practice of sin. We must be 
conscious that we are all chargeable wi^h many sins and 
misdeeds; if so, we are but masking the matter with our 
Maker, and practising the merest dissimulation to pre- 
tend to fast and humble ourselves before him, without a 
reformation. Without an amendment there can be no 
repentance, and except ye repent, ye shall all likewise 
perish. And thus I have done with the second conside- 
ration: which was, the right use which we ought to make 
of the judgments of God upon others. I shall now only 
draw an inference or two from what h«s been said. 



J 1 16 1 

An«;l 1st. Let us adore the auTuI majesty of heaven, 
whose judgments we have been contemplating; and bow 
down to his sovereignty. Instead of searching into the 
pcirticular ends and reasons of Providence, let us say 
with St Paul "How unsearchable are his judgments, 
and his ways past fmding out!" If he who had been ta- 
ken up to the third heavens, and heard things that were 
unutterable ; if he who had been admitted so much near- 
er to the secrets of God than we have, durst not pry in- 
to them, how much less should we, who dwelljj|i houses 
that have their foundations in the dust ? Let ulniot per- 
plex ourselves with nice inquiries into those things, nor 
trouble one another with mutual censures and uncharita- 
ble reflections ; but let us all agree in this—to acknow- 
ledge the righteousness of God in all his judgments and 
providences to us, and others ; and to humble ourselves 
under his might/ hand ; firmly believing, that if we arc 
found conscientiously discharging our duty, all thmgs 
shall turn to our good. Let us comply with the visible 
and open ends of God judgments upon ourselves and 
others, which is to search and try our ways, and return 
to the Lord that he may have mercy upon U9, and to 
our God that he may abundantly pardon. 

2d. We should sincerely deplore the loss we Have sus- 
tained by the late awful visitation, and commiserate the 
unhappy FuflfenTS. Our holy religion teaches us not on- 
ly to "' rejoice with those that do rejoice, but also to weep 
wi^h those that weep!" Our Io5s has been greaf indeed, 
in the many valuable lives of which our country has 
been deprived. 

The chief m^gisfrafe of our sfsitc. wi/h odiers who 
have filled wi^h the greate&t respectability, offices of the 
highest honour and trust which our country could be-« 
stow, have been swen^ from us! The number of respec- 
table victims is so grea^ as absolutely ^o prohibit all at- 
tempts at panegyrick — and the scene so horrible, as to 
forbid description. To the awful decrees of h<^aven we 
must submit I We can btit drop a tear, whilst we re- 



i !■■? ] 

sign the dead (to us no more) into the hands of a merci- 
ful and righteous God. 

What heart is there so hard, but must feel for the be- 
reaved and sufiering relatives ! To them we owe the 
tenderest sympathies. Human nature is so constituted, 
that when we have those, who participate m our suffer- 
ings and divide our griefs, the poignancy of sorrow is 
considerably blunted, and the affliction alleviated, to the 
principal sufferer. Refuse not your hearts, then upon 
the present occasion : lock not up your feelings from 
the present distress. 

None but those who have experienced the loss of a be- 
loved husband or wife in the ordinary course of nature, 
can realize the distress of such a scene. But what a la- 
ceration must the late sudden and indiscribable separa- 
tions give, to the wound ! 

No affection upon earth can be more pure and ange- 
lick, than that of a fond fathei^ or mother, to an amiable, 
accomphshed& affectionate daughter, for whom they have 
passed sleeple&s nights and anxious days. How does the 
sight of every opening accomplishment and every men- 
tal excellency thrill thro' their hearts, with unutterable 
delight! No pang of nature can equal what is felt, when 
they are called to close their e^'^es in death, with all the 
preparation that a lingering disease can give ! But — to 
view them in the morning, in all the sprightliness of 
youth and bloom of health^and in the evening — breath- 
less corpses ;■ — to see them one hour before, in all their 
beauty, and interesting vivacity — and the next, to be in- 
formed of their being enveloped in flames and reduced 
to an indistinguishable ruin — O God ! the heart of man 
can scarcely believe, but that this is all an illusion of the 
imagination! Thinking they must still be alive -they in- 
voluntarily look out to sec them return — or inquire af- 
ter them of all they meet. You will excuse me from 
pursuing this description thro' more of the tender and 
endearing relations of life, for we have had enough of 
this overwhelming tale of woe. 



[ 18 ] 

3d Let us be Unfeignedly thankful, that, while so 
many have lately been ewept from this world into an 
awful eternity, we have been respited ; and so many 
of our friends and relations, who were imminently in 
danger, have escaped unhurt. Bless the Lord, O, our 
souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy name. Bless 
the Lord, O, our souls and forget not his benefits. 

Lastly, i^et us beware of felicitatmg ourselves too highly 
upon our escape and thereby thinking ourselves too se- 
cure. I have no authority to apply these words to you 
as our Saviour did, to the Jews ; because, as has been 
mentioned, they contained a prediction of a particular 
event, to that nation, in case they continued impenitent ; 
which they did, and this prophecy was soon after sadly 
fulfilled, in the utter ruin and destruction of that devoted 
people. 1 know not what Providence has in reserve for 
US, and our country. For aught we can tell, we may 
have to witness distressful scenes for ourselves in a short 
time. Our political horizon has become awfully low- 
ering — our earth has had its shaking fits, and 
has been tottering very lately under our guilty 
feet! In a moment — in the twinkling ofaneye--we may 
all be buried alive and our habitations made a heap of 
ruins. One thing is very certain---we are a guilty people ; 
^n ungrateful nation : and this we may assuredly say, 
from a warrant of the general tenor of scripture ; that if, 
notwithstanding these great judgments of God which have 
been upon us, and made such fearful desolations among us, 
we do not search and try our ways, and turn to him who 
has smitten others for our warning, we have reason to fear 
we shall suffer in a manner somewhat similar; or, that 
God will bring some greater temporal judgment upon us 
and be angry with us until he has utterl>' consumed us. 

But whatever God may do as to temporal judgments, 
this we are as sure of, as the word of God can make us ; 
that there is a sad fate hanging over ail impeninent sin- 
ners ; which, however they may escape in this world, 
will certainly fall upon them in the next. God hath sworn 



■[ 19 3 

it, and shall he not do it ? that such shall never enter in- 
to his rest. He is immutably determined to make such 
for ever miserable, as by their final obstinacy and im- 
penitency refuse to be happy. And of this terrible doom 
the judgments here in the text, and that lately expe- 
rienced among ourselves, are but imperfect types and 
representations. How glad would sinners then be, to 
suffer only such things as the Galileans did — what a fa- 
vour would they esteem it to have no worse fate, than 
those eighteen upon whom a tower fell ; — How willing- 
ly would they then exchange their lot, for a hasty tem- 
porary blaze of fire that would instantly suffocate them; 
destroy all sensibility', and reduce them to ashes ! Fain 
would they call to the rocks and mountains to fall on 
them, and there lie hid from the face of him, that shall 
sit upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. JNlo, 
it is a more fearful ruin — a destruction infinitely more 
terrible that awaits those in another world, who will not 
Fepent in this life ; even everlasting destruction from the 
presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power! And 
how great and fearful that is, is not to be expressed in 
words ; nor can we frame any perfect idea of it, from 
any of those pains and sufferings with which we are ac- 
quainted in this world. For who knows the power of 
God's anger? or who can conceive the utmost of what 
omnipotent justice is able to do to sinners? 

Certainly, nothing can be a sadder presage of greater 
calamities, and a more feaful ruin yet to befal us, than 
that we have hitherto been so little reformed by those 
loud and chick vollies of judgments, which have been 
already thundered upon us. This was what brought at 
last so terrible a destruction upon the Egyptians : tliey 
were hardened under ten previous plagues, I'o be im- 
penitent under the judgments of heaven which are so 
mercifully designed to reclaim and to reform us, is to 
poison ourselves with that which was intended for our 
medicine, and, by a miraculous kind of obstinacy, to turn 
the rods of God into serpents. 



f ^ 1 

Be assured we have not been called to repenttince and- 
rerormutioii too soon. God knows, the state of religion, 
ofniorals, & manners is gloomy enough among us; we have 
enough to repent of : enough that calls riloud for refor- 
mation. M:iy we not hope we are already sensible of 
it! Let us then shew our sincerity by, our conducts- 
use all our influence from our standing in society and 
from the stations we may fill, to suppress vice and im- 
piety in every shape : and to approve ourselves to our 
maker. Other places have been gorely visited and have 
sorely suffered. Sin, no doubt, has been the procuring 
cause of all our sufferings. 

" What then, were they the wicked above all^, 
And we the righteous ?- 



-No — none are clear. 



And none than we more guilty. But where all 
Stand chargeable with guilt, and to the shafts 
Of wrath obnoxious ; God may choose his mark = 
May punish if he |jlease, the less, to warn 
The more malignant. If he spar'dnot them. 
Tremble, and be amaz'd at thine escape 
-lest he spare not thee." 

COWPER. 



THE END. 



.£JL '10 



V. 



